Daily Republican., 1887-09-16
a ZIG Snow.
Progress of . Century--UoBmemc ing
the Adoption OF the Nations csastitu-

Progress of Century--uommeme ing
the Adoption OF the Nations csast,tu-
tion.
The first result of the labor of love
which the CONSTITUTIONAL Centennial
Commission begun two years ago, and
TO which its active officials, together
with Its marshal, have been earnestly
devctiug most Of their time for several
months. wes Witnessed In the splsnd Id
success In Philadelphia OF Thursday OF
the Industrial Professional Display ar.
ranged for the first of the three days
celebration OF the centenary OF the
Constitution.
After many utbations OF mind
lest the weather should preve uupropi-
titgs, the day turned out 70 DO Just
what was needed tor its complete en-.
Joy nept.
There were not, In cur Judgment.
less than four hundred thousand peo
pie en- Broad street, and not unlike ly
bali million. This is not guess ork
merely, but frcm computations made q;
various poinis. carefully tested and re
vised, making an average OF twelve
thousand spectators for every i've hun
dred feet OF the length OF Broad street
occupied by the display. Our compu
tatton does not include thcee marching
In the column.
Only those who could get "a coed
look" ut the long vistas Of decorated
streets, the miles OF amphitheatre plat
forms, the dense crowds that occupied
them, the moving masses OF humanity
everywhere along the highways, which
were hardly highways any moie lor
scores, and hundreds of them were "ro
tborous hfsres" during the long day
from after breakfast till the going down
of the sun. II is lot In the power OF
mere words to describe the i'm meppe
and brilliant pageant and Its surIsund-
iDgs In = way wholly adequate 10 the
occasion.
ON THE STREETS
Scarcely lees interesting than the pn-
geant itself were the enormous crowds
| IN tho streets. II the exhibits IN line
were splendid manifestation - of the
achievements Of free people after a
century OF progress, the gathered thou.
sands OF spectators were an eloquent
testimony to the growth ofthe Republic
and the patriotism of her cttizsns. All
the week visitors from almost every
section Of the country have been pour
ing into Philatelphis.
All roads led TO PbiladelphiA and the
tospitalitv Of the Quaker City" was
never before more severely or agrees bl y
taxed. At the earliest glimmer OF
dawn the people were ast!r. IL IL safe
to say that for numbers the previous
night was sleepless one. " nen the
morning came 1t was gladly Welcomed.
Many hurried breakfast was swal.
lowed in order that the "little ones"
might be got ready to "see the parade.
A hasty scanning OF the morning paper
for the programme In detail, and then
everybody set ont for Broad street.
On foot, IN street cars, In hacks, In
wag ons, on 6rays, In every con ceivable
form Of conveyance, the multitude
pressed on to the scene Of the day e
pleasure. All sorts and conditions OF
people were there. Market baskets,
packed IS for picnic, might be seen on
every ride. Broad street, In the belief
OF many old and observant persons with
good memories, was never before 70
eensely packet with siRhtseers.
The crowds packed the stands which,
In great pr ,fnsion, had been erected
along the route. They oveTfiowed the
sidewalks and invaded the streets, fear
less Of the antics OF prancing horses and
reckless of the consequences. In some
places the people were wedged together
so closely ss to practically prevent mo-
ton. At times there were wave cur
rents, during which the sea of hats
might be observed to surge, responsive
TO the impulse Of the spectators 10 press
close against the ropes stretched by the
police. At times these bempen barriert
| hnN hx lrh h atr nd
spilled the front ranks Of spectators intc
the highway.
Every door step was occupied. Thou
sands were on house tops The trees
too, had their human freight. The
doors and windows Of the larger struc
lures and public Institutions s~armed
with human beings. The greatest as
semblage was between Filbert and
Walnut streets, where there were many
attractions.
| Driven before the vanguard of the
procession, like wreckage on the cres
OF an advancing wave, came n prodi-
gous mob OF boys Of all ages and e.zss
in every style and mRnntr OF dress
with compilations OF every appreciabls
shade from white to black. S)me made
pssses In the air with broomsticks, and
bravely struggled to simulate the pomI
OF drum major. Others with linked
arms spread an unsteady line across
the highway, and kepts jubilant steI
to the notes Of the approaching harmon
les. And 70 the troop swept on amids'
an indescribable yelling and babel o.
tongues.
Tne Gordon OF mounted police camt
AID the great crowd jostled and pusheo
In On effort TO secure full view OF tbs
notables as they arrived within the lint
of vision. The ear was well nigt
stunned with the blare OF trumpets
the rattle and bang of the drums anC
oymbsls, and the shrill piping OF tn
hfes. Tho eye was almost surfeitet
with the wealth of color and beanty
that flowed past like river between
banks Of humanity.
Broad street from end TO end wa
lined with stands OF all conceivable
descriptions. The largest apparently
was that to the north and east OF thu
Public Buildings, where tbe guests O
the Constitutional Commission wer,
seated. Accommodations ut this poin
had been Tor O day or two almost i'm
possible TO secure. The demand iol
seats on tbs various stands, public ano
private, had began long before tnt
sound OF hammer and saw was silencod
1t would be puzzling to calculate Row
nauch money WAS spent In this oirec
tion. Prices varied from day to day
The gloomy skies of the early part cl
the week cast consid erabe Of daWpei
upon the advance sales, as 1t was well
understood that, once seats were ocash'
and paid for, money would not De re-
funded under any conditions. No'
alone vacant lots and ordinary businest
places were fronted by stands,
To estimate the number of people who
filled the streets along the route OF The